MAJOR ROPATA.
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MAJOR ROPATA WAHAWAHA,
CHIEF OF NGATIPOROU.
MAJOR ROPATA was one of the bravest and most loyal of Her Majesty's subjects in New Zealand. He knew no fear, and was ready to lay down his life, as he in so many instances showed, in defence of law and order. At the commencement of the fight at Waiapu, he resisted one hundred rebels when he had but few men, and only seven guns. He seldom carried a weapon, except a pistol or walking stick. His strength was prodigious. At Tikitiki, the contending parties were ranged on each side of a ravine, when one of the enemy came forward, on the opposite bank, defying Ropata and his men. Ropata saw him, and went at him unarmed, and succeeded in dashing out his brains, whilst both parties stood looking on perfectly amazed. This was one of his earliest exploits. Afterwards, Ropata came down to Pukepapa, where some five hundred rebels were entrenched, and amongst whom were some of his own tribe. He had but two hundred followers with him at the time; but with this small force he soon overturned the pa. After this he followed down and took the rebel pa at Tahutahupo.
Ropata was a man of iron nerve, who would never swerve from his purpose. At Ngatapa, he came with a small body of men, overturned the pa, and defeated the rebels. Most of his men deserted him; but, with only thirty men, he charged the last trench, carried it, and held it all night. For this he received the decoration of the New Zealand Cross and a pension of £100 per annum. Afterwards he joined the forces under Colonel Whitmore and gave valuable assistance in defeating the rebels.
On one occasion, when the Europeans and Ropata's men were engaged with the enemy, Ropata stood on a rock, at a distance, and guided the movements of his own men by waving to them which way to proceed, so well disciplined were they. At another time he and his men were advancing up the bed of a river exposed
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to a very harassing fire, so much so that they became panic-stricken and showed a tendency to retreat. But Ropata, bent on his purpose, resolutely advanced, come what would, and with his stick he thrashed all those who felt inclined to retire. Again, he actually took possession of the whole of the Uriwera country. When in the middle of the country, he was surrounded by rebels on all sides, who asked him to retire, promising not to molest him. The odds were fearfully against him, but nothing would make him turn from his purpose, and he merely replied that as he had got so far he would go right through. He did so, and the rebels for a day or so pursued him hotly, but eventually gave it up, and he got through safely. He afterwards said he knew that had he returned his force would have been massacred. This is only a tithe of his exploits.
Major Ropata has done an immense amount of good in the cause of order for the New Zealand Government, and so far from having his income reduced, it should have been doubled. He is as great a general in Maori warfare as ever lived in New Zealand--a wonderful man, for when fighting, he never took shelter, but remained in the open, yet was never hit. He never cringed to anyone, but went honestly forward, a creature of Providence. After the war, Her Majesty presented him with a handsome sword, in recognition of his services, and he gained the decoration of the New Zealand Cross, as the Gazette states, "for personal gallantry and loyal devotion on the occasion both of the first and last attacks on Ngatapa, and more especially for the courage he showed on the first occasion, at the head of only seventy men, when all the rest of the native contingent had retreated and left him without support. Major Ropata then pushed his way close to the entrenchments, and held a position at a pistol-shot distance all day, and until, under cover of night, he was compelled by want of ammunition to retire, having sustained heavy losses."
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CAPTAIN ROSS.
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CAPTAIN ROSS.
CAPTAIN FREDERICK ROSS, the second son of Hugh Ross, Esq., of Cokeley, on the breaking-out of the war, was chosen as one of the officers of the Rangitikei troop of Yeomanry Cavalry, and served in that capacity until appointed to a Sub-Inspectorship in the Armed Constabulary of the colony, from which time up to his death he was present in most of the engagements that took place. He was severely wounded while reconnoitring at Ketemarae, a bullet having entered his wrist and escaped at his elbow. Despite the painful nature of the wound, he was in a few weeks back again in command of his company. He soon after received orders to garrison with twenty-five men the old redoubt erected by Her Majesty's 14th Regiment at Turi Turi Mokai. It took some time to put in order, and when done, finding it too small for the necessary buildings, Captain Ross had his own tent pitched outside. All went well for two or three weeks, and the natives living in the immediate district came daily to offer their produce for sale, making friends with the officers and men, and lulling them into a false security, from which they were destined to be rudely awakened. The friendship of the natives was merely a ruse to inspect the redoubt and discover its weak points, as they subsequently made a night attack, killing or wounding nineteen out of the twenty-five defenders. Captain Ross was first awakened by the report of a rifle fired by one of the sentries, whose suspicions were aroused by the restless movements of some sheep feeding in the neighbourhood of the redoubt, and seeing a Maori raise his head above the fern he fired. In an instant a wild yell was raised by the natives lying in ambush around, followed by a general charge of the enemy. Captain Ross, having no time to dress, seized his sword and revolver and reached the entrance to the redoubt before the enemy, and there fell while gallantly defending the bridge across the ditch. The Maoris were led by their chief, Tautai, who in his charge missed his footing on the bridge and fell into the ditch. The next man
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fell by Captain Ross's revolver, and he had wounded another, when a native, crawling along under the planks of the bridge, shot and mortally wounded Ross through the openings, and driving a long-handled tomahawk into his body, dragged him into the ditch, where they cut his heart out. It is said that when Captain Ross was shot he called out to his men, "Take care of yourselves, boys, I am done for." And four of the bravest of his men, taking his words literally, actually jumped the parapet over the Maoris' heads, and, strange to say, three of them got clear away and gave the alarm. Thus ended the career of Captain Frederick Ross, one of the many colonial youths of New Zealand whose bravery, love of adventure, and open-heartedness wins the love and friendship of all they are thrown in contact with.
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CAPTAIN NEWLAND.
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CAPTAIN NEWLAND.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM NEWLAND was born in Taranaki, entered the Colonial service at the very beginning of the war, and took a most active part in it to its close, having been present at most of the skirmishes and engagements fought. He had the character of being a brave and determined man and a good officer, consequently his promotion was rapid. He served on both the East and West Coast campaigns of the North Island, being oftentimes in command of the cavalry or mounted force of the colony assisting in the operations against the rebel natives. Lie was essentially a cavalry officer, though well used to bush warfare. He also served under Sir George S. Whitmore at Taupo and in the Uriwera country when in pursuit of Te Kooti, and seemingly must have borne a charmed life, having escaped the numerous perils consequent on guerilla warfare. Captain Newland has now settled down to agricultural pursuits in the favoured district in which he was born. He was much respected by his men, who were a picked troop, many of whom fell at Okotuku and in other engagements. The names of Mick Noonan, Jim Lane, Kelly, and many others, will ever be remembered for their bravery and coolness in action, although some of them are numbered with the slain. Mr Shortt, of Queen-street, Auckland, also served in his troop, and afterwards acted as aide-de-camp to the late lamented Colonel St. John, and was for some time principal orderly to the Staff at head-quarters in Patea and Ngatipa on the East Coast. Captain Newland's distinguished services were frequently mentioned in despatches. He took a gallant part in defending the homes of settlers during the most critical period of the war. Colonel Sir George Whitmore, in his despatch after the Moturoa engagement, says:--"I beg to express my obligations to Sub-Inspector Newland, Armed Constabulary, who succeeded to the command of the force, and who behaved splendidly."
CAPTAIN LLOYD.
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CAPTAIN LLOYD.
CAPTAIN LLOYD, while in command of detachments of the 57th Regiment and one hundred military settlers, was the first to come in collision with the Hauhaus while foraging and destroying Maori crops at Ahu Ahu, on the Kaitake ranges. The main body had finished work, and with piled arms awaited the return of Lieutenant Cox, 57th Regiment, who, with a small party, was destroying maize on the hill-side. Suddenly a large body of the enemy rushed out of the fern and scrub, with a terrific yell, firing as they advanced. The military settlers had been enrolled only a few weeks, many of them had never fired a shot, and their rifles were so clogged with oil that they would not go off; the few men who had seen service were new to Maori warfare, with its ambuscades, yells, etc.; the natural result was that both soldiers and settlers were thrown into confusion, and, after a little desultory firing, something very like a stampede ensued. Captain Lloyd stood his ground and was killed fighting bravely; Lieutenant Cox, with a handful of men, escaped by taking to the bush; and Captain Page, with ten or twelve men, who stood by him, got into high fern, and made his way through it to the Poutuku Redoubt. Our loss was seven men killed and twelve wounded; the enemy had four killed. Lieutenant Cox and his party, guided by a Maori scout, reached the town of Taranaki, and gave the alarm. The Bush Rangers, under Major Atkinson, always ready, were ordered to the scene of action, and reached the place in an incredibly short space of time. They found that the heads of those killed had been cut off and carried away. This act of barbarity was new in Maori warfare, and not understood at the time. Several men were missing, and as it was quite possible that they might be hiding in the thick fern, the officer commanding the Bush Rangers had the 57th regimental call sounded. The missing ones responded, and were brought out, all more or less severely wounded. They stated that the enemy rushed upon them barking like dogs, and seemed to have no fear of death.
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CAPTAIN E. TUKE.
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CAPTAIN E. TUKE.
CAPTAIN E. TUKE was ordered by the late Sir Donald McLean to Dunedin in 1863 to enlist the Hawke's Bay Military Settlers, and succeeded, with the assistance of Sergt.-Major Scully, in enrolling a fine body of 150 men, who did good service during the war. He was then sent to Poverty Bay, and was for a short time under the late Major Biggs' command, but was ordered back to Napier with forty men, to take up a position on the Ngaruroro river, and built a redoubt there. This was for the purpose of preventing a turbulent native, Paora Kopakau, from joining the Hauhaus from the Patea side. He was also present at the action at Petane, the late Major Fraser being in command, where nearly the whole of the Hauhaus were killed, including the most troublesome chief in Hawke's Bay, Rangihiroa. Captain Tuke was then ordered to the Chatham Islands in command of a guard of thirty men, and sailed for there in the St. Kilda, Captain Johnson, in October, 1865, with sixty prisoners taken in Omaranui and other places, relieving his brother, Major Tuke. The prisoners at the Chathams, then 317 in all, were well-behaved and orderly. They were supplied with rations, clothing, and tobacco, but had to work in planting their potatoes, fishing, etc. Te Kooti Rikirangi (his name tattooed on his breast), being a very quiet and well-behaved man, was placed in charge of the fishing boats. Te Kooti was suddenly taken ill, suffering from spitting of blood. He became so bad that his hapu asked permission to put him in a whare by himself to die, a native custom, with an old woman to attend him, but he had every attention paid to him by Dr. Watson, the surgeon, and was fed on port wine for some days. To the surprise of the prisoners Te Kooti recovered, which they considered a miracle, and the man became a great prophet and commenced preaching the Hauhau religion. Thinking that some evil was brewing, Captain Tuke wrote privately, by instructions from the late Sir Donald McLean, to that effect. A Commissioner (Major Edwards) was sent down. He recommended that the guard should be strengthened and another redoubt built in a stronger position overlooking the prisoners' whares. These recommendations were unfortunately not carried out; but another Commissioner (Mr. Rolleston) was sent, with instructions to take all surveillance off the prisoners--in fact, let them do as they liked, but give them their rations as before. The first step Captain Tuke had to take
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was to do away with the morning and evening roll-call, as the prisoners could go where they liked and could roam all over the island at their pleasure. This second Commission cost the country thousands of pounds, for if the first had been carried out the prisoners would not have escaped, but would have been released, according to Sir Donald McLean's promise, in three years. Another foolish act was pardoning the chiefs who had behaved well, who had been placed by Captain Thomas, Resident Magistrate, and Captain Tuke in charge of their different hapus. They were all released, sixteen in number, but one Kingita, a very bad fellow, who was killed afterwards at Poverty Bay. It was then that Te Kooti commenced his career as prophet. Te Kooti, when in Poverty Bay, was not a Hauhau, but was sent away for selling ammunition to the Hauhaus, a charge that was never proved. He therefore had a grievance, but always behaved well. Captain Tuke was present at his marriage by the Resident Magistrate, Captain Thomas, to a woman named Martha in the Court-house. How little anyone then present thought that he would afterwards revenge himself on men, women, children, and little infants. Captain Tuke was ordered back to Wellington in February, 1868, with the greater part of the guard and the released chiefs. He then retired from active service, but afterwards volunteered his services to Colonel McDonnell and joined the expedition to Potou Rotoaira, marching with a native force under Renata Kawepo by the inland route via Patea. On arriving at Potou he accompanied Colonel McDonnell in a reconnoitring party, who were fired at from the hills above Tokano. He was then sent back with despatches to Napier, making the journey in a clay and a half, riding all night, accompanied by a half-caste, who picked up exchange horses on the road.
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MAJOR PORTER.
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MAJOR PORTER.
Carrying off a wounded soldier--Storming Ngatapa pa--Fighting Titokowaru--Pursuit of Te Kooti, and capture of two pas.
MAJOR PORTER'S first appearance amongst those who had so nobly volunteered to aid the Government in reestablishing law and order in the colony was in the Colonial Defence Force Cavalry. Colonel Whitmore, the then commandant, placed him in charge of the Block House at Mohaka, for the protection of that district, the native mind at that moment being much disturbed. From this time to the end of the war Major Porter's name was continually before the public as one of the most active and resolute officers in the force. At Waerenga-a-hika he greatly distinguished himself by bringing off the field (with the assistance of three others) one of his own men, who was severely wounded, under a heavy fire; he sustained a wound on this occasion. In 1866, the false economy of the Government having disbanded the Colonial forces, Major Porter was entrusted by Sir Donald McLean and Major Biggs (who was afterwards killed in the Poverty Bay massacre) with some very important negotiations with the Ngatiporou, which he executed to the satisfaction of the Government.
In 1868, when Te Kooti and his band of ruffians escaped from the Chatham Isles and landed at Poverty Bay, Major Porter again volunteered his services, taking part in nearly every action fought before and after the massacre.
At the siege of Ngatapa, he particularly distinguished himself. Being attached to the native contingent under Ropata, he formed one of the storming party who so gallantly scaled the outer works of the enemy, which action led to its capture. For this, Colonel Whitmore recommended him as sub-inspector of the Armed Constabulary, and gave him the command of No. 8 division of the Arawa tribe, who had orders to proceed to the West Coast to assist the field force raised against Titokowaru, who was then threatening the Patea and Wanganui districts.
During the Wanganui campaign Major Porter was continually on active service, and being a good Maori linguist, he was often detailed off, with Major Kemp and the Wanganuis, as a flying column of pursuit. In one of the ambuscades on the Waitotara, and also at Otauto, where so many of our scouts fell, Major Porter
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was again slightly wounded, and after the final scattering of Titokowaru's force at Te Ngaere, and the cessation of hostilities, he returned to the East Coast, with his company of Arawas, to take up the pursuit of Te Kooti, who had appeared in force and committed many massacres, both at Whakatane and Mohaka. Major Porter was afterwards placed in charge of the Transport Corps, and narrowly escaped being one of the party who were so treacherously murdered at Opepe. Te Kooti having retired to the fastnesses of the Uriwera country, Sir Donald McLean organised several expeditions to penetrate this stronghold of rebellion, which was quite a terra incognita, and Major Porter was ordered to accompany Major Ropata and an expeditionary force of Ngatiporou in marching through that hitherto supposed impenetrable country. At Maungapohatu, on the way, Major Porter, with a division of the force, successfully surprised a pa, and captured about 80 prisoners, the expedition culminating in the fight at Maraetahi, near Opotiki, where a number of Te Kooti's men were killed and 330 taken prisoners.
From that time to 1871 Major Porter was wholly engaged in bush travelling, in pursuit of Te Kooti, through the wild fastnesses of the country, enduring hardships and starvation, which so pulled him down that his nearest relations failed to recognise him.
The last engagement fought with Te Kooti was at Te Hapua, near Maungapohatu, from which place Te Kooti escaped with but few followers, and in one of these expeditions Ropata's force captured Kereopa, the murderer of the Rev. Mr. Volkner, and handed him over to justice. On the cessation of hostilities, to Major Porter was left the task of disarming our native allies, and by judicious diplomacy he succeeded in inducing them to return 2000 stand of arms, for which he was awarded just praise. Major Porter during these later years has held the post of Staff-Adjutant of East Coast Militia District, Native Office Land Purchase Commissioner, and many other appointments entailing great responsibility.
As Land Purchase Commissioner, he completed the Crown title to 547,381 acres in various parts of the East Coast of New Zealand. He has been elected Mayor of Gisborne four times, and has taken an active part in other local institutions.
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RIGHT REV. BISHOP SELWYN.
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RIGHT REV. BISHOP SELWYN.
GEORGE AUGUSTUS SELWYN, D.D., was born at Hampstead in 1809, and consecrated Bishop of New Zealand in 1841. He was educated at Eton, and while manifesting his rare abilities as a scholar, he was very fond of all athletic sports, in which he excelled, and found to his advantage during the chequered life he spent while in New Zealand and the South Pacific Islands. The draft of his letters patent as Bishop of New Zealand, framed on those of the Bishop of Australia, shocked him greatly, more particularly the Erastian expression of the Queen giving him the power to ordain. But the Crown lawyers were inexorable, and the letters patent were issued with the offensive clauses in full. Against this the Bishop could only protest, which he did formally in a document delivered to the Colonial Office, saying "that he conceived that all spiritual functions were conveyed to him at his ordination." This feeling of High Church principles the Bishop carried out with him to the Antipodes, for on his arrival there he soon made his presence known, preaching the truths of the Church as by law established, and completely ignoring the doctrines of the Wesleyans and others who had for some years been instructing the natives in Christianity. This led to a series of letters between the Bishop and the Wesleyan minister of Taranaki, the Rev. H. Hanson Turton, all of which will be found in Brown's "New Zealand," published 1845, wherein the Rev. H.H. Turton asks the Bishop who invested him with the authority he denied to others, a question the writer says the Bishop very wisely refrained from answering. Like most of the missionaries, he took the part of the natives, right or wrong, advocated their cause, and at times placed himself in such a position during the war that had he been a person of less dignity he would in all probability have come to great grief. As it was it caused considerable annoyance to the military authorities. The Bishop was of opinion that the Governor was wrong in consenting to purchase Teira's land at the Waitara (the cause of the war), which led to the action he took; otherwise His Lordship was highly approved of as the head of his own denomination, and generally admired and respected by all communions. He was a man of great earnestness, eloquence, and courage. He returned to England in 1867, and was soon after made Bishop of Lichfield, which position he retained up to the time of his death.
JOHN McGREGOR.
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JOHN McGREGOR.
Murder of the Gilfillan family--John McGregor's leap for life--Settlers asking to be removed.
THE first outbreak in Wanganui occurred in the year 1848, when the up-river natives, led by their old chief Maketu, murdered the Gilfillan family, drove in the out-settlers, and actually occupied and held possession for a time of a portion of the town, although it was garrisoned by several companies of Her Majesty's 58th Regiment. During this siege a settler named John McGregor (late a wealthy settler there), seeing some of his cows on the opposite side of the river, crossed with the intention of bringing them in, and was ascending Shakespeare's Cliff, when an ambush of Maoris, from a ti-tree scrub, suddenly rose and pursued him. He turned and fled for his life, and as he looked round at his pursuers they fired. A ball entered his mouth and passed out of his cheek without displacing a tooth. Finding himself hard pressed, John McGregor leaped over the cliff on to the beach below--some say a height of fifty feet--and so escaped. This settler afterwards headed a deputation to Sir George Grey (who was always to be found where danger threatened), asking him to remove them to Wellington, and abandon the settlement. But Sir George Grey, with his knowledge of human nature, replied, "Before I assent to your request, I should like to see how many of you really wish it." He then directed all those who were anxious to run away from the natives to move to the other side of the room. Not a man stirred, Sir George having by this speech roused their courage and saved the settlement.
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CAPTAIN PREECE.
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CAPTAIN PREECE.
CAPTAIN GEORGE A. PREECE entered the Government service as clerk and interpreter to the Resident Magistrate at Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, in December, 1864, and was attached to the colonial forces as extra interpreter, and served in the field through the East Coast campaign of 1865-66 under Colonel Fraser. After the cessation of hostilities he returned to duty in the Civil Service until July, 1868, when Te Kooti escaping from the Chatham Islands, he was again attached to the colonial forces with the rank of Ensign. He served under Captains Richardson and Tuke, Major Westrupp, and Colonel Lambert, and was in several expeditions against the rebel natives. After the Poverty Bay massacre he was made Lieutenant in command of the Wairoa Native Contingent. He accompanied Major Ropata and the Ngatiporou Contingent to Poverty Bay for the purpose of following up the rebels, and was present at the Makaretu engagement, as also the first attack on Ngatapa, for which service he received the special thanks of the Government, and was subsequently rewarded with the decoration of the New Zealand Cross. He served through the East and West Coast campaigns of 1868-69 under Sir George Whitmore, and was several times favourably mentioned in despatches. He afterwards served under Colonels Herrick and McDonnell in Taupo and Tapapa, and was again mentioned in despatches on three occasions. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in February, 1870. The command of the Native Contingent was entrusted to him, and he was present in a number of expeditions, engaging with rebels on several occasions from 1870 to 1872, when Te Kooti with the remainder of his followers escaped into the King country. He experienced great hardships in the Uriwera country during these expeditions. He served in the Armed Constabulary as Sub-Inspector until May, 1876, when he was again transferred to the Civil Service as Resident Magistrate in the Opotiki district. On the occasion of the first attack upon Ngatapa his behaviour was so brilliant as to elicit the admiration of Major Ropata, who recommended him for special reward to the commanding officer with the very complimentary remark "that with two or three more like him he would have been able to break into the pa, at that time not fully completed."
MR. HEWITT.
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MR. HEWITT.
Murder of Mr. Hewitt.--Head cut off and exhibited throughout the country.
EVERY day some fresh incident occurred to prove the hostile character of the natives around us, and an Order was issued for the out-settlers to bring in their wives and children for protection. This order had not been in force many days when the murder of Mr. Hewitt took place. This gentleman, having settled on land in the neighbourhood of the Kai-iwi River, eight miles from town, had removed his family for safety, but continued, with his servant, to occupy the house, there being a military station within half a mile of his farm. He had ridden into town, and, having turned his horse into my paddock, he (on coming for it in the evening) requested my wife to go and comfort Mrs. Hewitt, who was in low spirits, and did not wish him to sleep at the farm, having a presentiment that something would happen. "But," he continued, "as I have left the man there, I cannot desert him." He accordingly rode out, and in the middle of the night was awakened by the furious barking of his dogs. He incautiously went outside with his man to ascertain the cause, and, hearing Maoris talking in the bush around his house, was in the act of returning when he was shot down. His man fled from the place, and, leaping a bank and ditch fence, caught his sock on a stake, which held him head downwards in the ditch. This saved his life. It was very dark, the Maoris gave chase, thinking he was far ahead, and he escaped to the station. On returning with assistance, he found poor Hewitt's lifeless trunk. The head was gone, and the heart had been cut out. The head was afterwards placed on a pole and carried by the natives through the country as a trophy, together with that of Captain Lloyd, who had been shot at Taranaki a short time before.
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LIEUT. O'CALLAGHAN.
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LIEUT. O'CALLAGHAN.
LIEUTENANT WILLIAM G. O'CALLAGHAN, the son of Admiral O'Callaghan, entered the Royal Navy in April, 1855, as a cadet, having passed his examination at the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, and was duly entered on the books of Nelson's immortal flagship, the Victory. From thence he was sent to the Baltic to take his part in the campaign against Russia in Her Majesty's ship Hawke, an old block ship of sixty guns. Soon after he was drafted to the Exmouth, of ninety guns, the flagship of Sir Michael Seymour, and was present at the bombardment of Sveaborg, the reduction of Narva, and the blockade of Revel and Cronstdadt. Returning home in October, he received the medal awarded for the Baltic campaign before he was thirteen years old. He was afterwards, appointed to Her Majesty's ship Calcutta, of eighty-four guns a sailing line of battle ship, to which vessel Sir Michael Seymour had shifted his flag, as commander-in-chief in the China seas; and from the Calcutta he changed about to various ships, taking part in the war with China, which broke out in 1856. He was on board the Encounter, of fourteen guns, when she fired the first shot against the city of Canton; was present at the first storming of that city, when the British force, being engaged by overwhelming numbers, had to retire; took part in the bombardment and capture of the Bogue Forts, the French Folly, and Stameen Forts, besides several boat actions. He was sent to England, and changed to the frigate Actaeon, of twenty-six guns, and, again proceeding to China, was present at the final bombardment and storming of Canton, in 1857, in which action his captain, W.T. Bates, was shot through the heart. He served afterwards in the Retribution, when Lord Elgin, the British plenipotentiary, proceeded with a squadron consisting of the Retribution, Furious, and Cruiser, with gunboats Dove and Lee, to open up our trade on the River Yang-tse-Kiang, and in the engagement had two officers and three seaman wounded, and a marine killed. He was then invalided home in July, 1859, but proceeded to New Zealand in 1861, and, liking the country, he left the Imperial service, and was sent by the New Zealand Government to Sydney, to aid Captain Bilton in bringing over a gunboat (the Pioneer), returning in her as first lieutenant. On arriving in the Manukau, the Pioneer was handed over to Commodore Wiseman, who put his own officers
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and men in her. He then offered his services as a volunteer and was appointed lieutenant in the Taranaki Military Settlers, and took part with them in the capture of Kaitaki, Manutahi, Mataitawa, and other rebel posts round and about New Plymouth, and subsequently joined the Wanganui Rangers, under the late Captain Frederick Ross. While in that company, he saw a lot of service, both at Opotiki, on the East Coast, and in the Patea on the West Coast of the North Island, being present at the engagements that took place at the Kiore-kino and the Hill pas, Ketemarae, Keteonetea, Turi-turi, and Pungarehu.
After acting as adjutant to the field force at Waihi, his position as senior subaltern in the expeditionary force, he thought, required consideration, and he naturally looked for promotion, the tardiness of which caused him to retire from the service. For his services in the navy, he received the Baltic Medal and the China Medal and clasps, besides £30 prize money. For his services in New Zealand, he received the New Zealand Medal and 200 acres of land in the Patea district; but, as he could not then settle on it, he accepted the office of clerk of the Magistrate's Court at Invercargill, where he is doing duty at the present moment.
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TROOPER LINGARD.
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TROOPER LINGARD.
TROOPER LINGARD, who had joined the Wanganui Cavalry, was awarded the New Zealand Cross for his gallant and determined courage in rescuing Trooper Wright, whose horse being shot dead, had fallen in front of the palisading surrounding the pa on Trooper Wright's leg, thereby holding him a prisoner. Trooper Lingard, seeing his position, immediately went to his assistance, and having with some difficulty extricated him, rode deliberately back to the palisading, and cutting away a Maori horse tethered there, put Trooper Wright thereon and brought him off the field, being all the time under heavy fire, thereby saving his comrade from being tomahawked. Trooper Lingard at the time was a very young man, and quite a stranger in the neighbourhood, consequently had neither interest nor friends to push his case, which made the honour of the decoration, awarded entirely on his merits, all the greater.
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